Saturn Vue two-mode dead, Chevrolet Equinox hybrid unlikely to hit until 2011

cwerdna · 06-11-2009, 12:28 AM

Well, it's official now. So much for GM's two-mode hybrids going into something affordable in the near future.

Saturn Vue two-mode dead, Chevrolet Equinox hybrid unlikely to hit until 2011

JSH · 06-11-2009, 09:50 AM

I can't blame GM for not wanting to give Penske's Saturn their best hybrid. The delay in the Equinox hybrid is probably due to GM's unwillingness to divert people from the Volt program to redesign the Vue's 2-mode system for the new engines in the Equinox.

I suspect the Aura hybrid will also be cancelled as it has not been mentioned in Saturn's sales agreements with Penske.

In other GM hybrid news, the Malibu hybrid has also been cancelled: GM to drop Malibu Hybrid for 2010

bwilson4web · 06-11-2009, 12:15 PM

Some of us had a chance to test drive the Saturn VUE two-mode in January and it is a nice, small or CRV style vehicle. However, I felt the engine was too large ... unless you are going after the 'tow a boat' crowd.

We had an interesting and informative discussion with one of the engineers but we'll cover that another day. But I will share that he was faced with decisions by upper management that showed in January 2009, they believed:

hybrids are 'for show' - the management at that time could not conceive of any other reason than 'bragging rights' for anyone to buy a hybrid or any 'green' vehicle

There are some very bright and skilled engineers in the old GM led off a cliff by some management whom I have no respect for.

Bob Wilson

zenMachine · 06-11-2009, 03:15 PM

General Motors Corp. has pulled the plug the hybrid-electric version of the Chevrolet Malibu sedan for the 2010 model year due to slow sales that has led to a backlog of inventory of the vehicles on dealer lots.

A GM spokesman said the company made the decision because of a "sufficient stock of 2009s," and said starting up production in the near future is "possible, but not likely." The company will continue to make hybrid versions of the Malibu for fleet buyers, but it is uncertain if GM will ever produce the Malibu hybrid for retail consumers ever again.

**Tideland Prius** · 06-11-2009, 07:00 PM

Quote:

General Motors Corp. has pulled the plug the hybrid-electric version of the Chevrolet Malibu sedan for the 2010 model year due to slow sales that has led to a backlog of inventory of the vehicles on dealer lots.

Are you serious??? Here, in fine print, the ad says "Limited Availability"

hampdenwireless · 06-11-2009, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

Are you serious??? Here, in fine print, the ad says "Limited Availability"

They made very few of them but do to dealers insisting on MSRP most of the time they also sold very few.

I did inquire into price for a friend, the additude was "its MSRP because its a hybrid". So the hybrid premium for the Malibu was much higher as the standard one was easy to get $2000 off.

They needed to kill it or give it a six speed trans, the non hybrid six speed essentially gets the same highway mpg.

**Tideland Prius** · 06-11-2009, 08:17 PM

Yet the Prius is offering discounts (because it's in its final year) and in fact there are a few light discounts on the new Insight in the US.

rfruth · 06-11-2009, 09:44 PM

I don't think Fritz Henderson has a clue (or he doesn't care)

GM-Volt.com Exclusive: Video Interview with GM CEO Fritz Henderson | GM-VOLT : Chevy Volt Electric Car Site

JSH · 06-11-2009, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

Are you serious??? Here, in fine print, the ad says "Limited Availability"

The Malibu Hybrid wasn't sold in all markets so in much of the country it was never available at all. On the GM.com Hybrid page the fine print says:

"Select markets include the following cities: Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Phoenix, Boston, Sacramento."

GM | Hybrid Cars, SUVs & Trucks - Hybrid Technology

hill · 06-11-2009, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfruth

I don't think Fritz Henderson has a clue (or he doesn't care)

GM-Volt.com Exclusive: Video Interview with GM CEO Fritz Henderson | GM-VOLT : Chevy Volt Electric Car Site

"Creep me out" interview. At 2:40 into the video, GM's new leader (is that who he is?) Mr Henderson says, "there's no reason the markets shouldn't bounce back". Um, what about ever increasing fossil fuel demands, even as cheep oil supplies (purchased from countries that are filled with extreamists, that want to wipe us out) fade away ... coupled with astronomical national debt ?? No reason? Wow. Call me out to lunch. Was he joking?

.

06-11-2009, 12:28 AM	#1
cwerdna Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle area, WA Posts: 2,306 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: N/A Package: #7 Thanks: 26 Thanked 60 Times in 52 Posts Friends: 3	Saturn Vue two-mode dead, Chevrolet Equinox hybrid unlikely to hit until 2011 Well, it's official now. So much for GM's two-mode hybrids going into something affordable in the near future. Saturn Vue two-mode dead, Chevrolet Equinox hybrid unlikely to hit until 2011

06-11-2009, 09:50 AM	#2
JSH Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Heart of Dixie Posts: 2,497 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #4 Thanks: 3 Thanked 83 Times in 55 Posts Friends: 2	Re: Saturn Vue two-mode dead, Chevrolet Equinox hybrid unlikely to hit until 2011 I can't blame GM for not wanting to give Penske's Saturn their best hybrid. The delay in the Equinox hybrid is probably due to GM's unwillingness to divert people from the Volt program to redesign the Vue's 2-mode system for the new engines in the Equinox. I suspect the Aura hybrid will also be cancelled as it has not been mentioned in Saturn's sales agreements with Penske. In other GM hybrid news, the Malibu hybrid has also been cancelled: GM to drop Malibu Hybrid for 2010

06-11-2009, 12:15 PM	#3
bwilson4web 03 and 10 Prius Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Huntsville AL with 2003 Prius Posts: 3,854 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: III Package: #1 Thanks: 146 Thanked 366 Times in 202 Posts Friends: 20	Re: Saturn Vue two-mode dead, Chevrolet Equinox hybrid unlikely to hit until 2011 Some of us had a chance to test drive the Saturn VUE two-mode in January and it is a nice, small or CRV style vehicle. However, I felt the engine was too large ... unless you are going after the 'tow a boat' crowd. We had an interesting and informative discussion with one of the engineers but we'll cover that another day. But I will share that he was faced with decisions by upper management that showed in January 2009, they believed: hybrids are 'for show' - the management at that time could not conceive of any other reason than 'bragging rights' for anyone to buy a hybrid or any 'green' vehicle There are some very bright and skilled engineers in the old GM led off a cliff by some management whom I have no respect for. Bob Wilson __________________ - NHW11 - ZVW30 A hybrid specific web site.

06-11-2009, 03:15 PM	#4
zenMachine Just another Onionhead Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 1,985 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 5 Thanked 15 Times in 11 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Saturn Vue two-mode dead, Chevrolet Equinox hybrid unlikely to hit until 2011 General Motors Corp. has pulled the plug the hybrid-electric version of the Chevrolet Malibu sedan for the 2010 model year due to slow sales that has led to a backlog of inventory of the vehicles on dealer lots. A GM spokesman said the company made the decision because of a "sufficient stock of 2009s," and said starting up production in the near future is "possible, but not likely." The company will continue to make hybrid versions of the Malibu for fleet buyers, but it is uncertain if GM will ever produce the Malibu hybrid for retail consumers ever again.

06-11-2009, 08:17 PM	#7
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,606 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 227 Thanked 344 Times in 243 Posts Friends: 23	Re: Saturn Vue two-mode dead, Chevrolet Equinox hybrid unlikely to hit until 2011 Yet the Prius is offering discounts (because it's in its final year) and in fact there are a few light discounts on the new Insight in the US.

06-11-2009, 09:44 PM	#8
rfruth Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 344 My Car: Other Hybrid Model: N/A Package: N/A Thanks: 22 Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts Friends: 23	Re: Saturn Vue two-mode dead, Chevrolet Equinox hybrid unlikely to hit until 2011 I don't think Fritz Henderson has a clue (or he doesn't care) GM-Volt.com Exclusive: Video Interview with GM CEO Fritz Henderson \| GM-VOLT : Chevy Volt Electric Car Site

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